Chakwera wants to move Malawi away from aid dependency
Malawi Congress Paryy (MCP) president Dr Lazarous Chakwera said if elected into power on May 20, he will lead a government that will embark on a huge development programme in a bid to reduce the country’s reliance on aid.
Chakwera made the remarks when he addressed mammoth crowds on Saturday at Chief Chlowamatambe in Kasungu.
He said begging bowl which Malawi carries every year takes away the dignity of the nation and that it becomes a laughing stock.
“I’m not trying to undermine the role of aid, but Malawi Congress Party’s main aim is to move from aid to trade and investment,” he said.
Chakwera told the crowds that donor aid has affected the development of the country because leadership who have been running the country have been preoccupied with self-enrichment.
He informed the people about the cashgate scandal where billions were plundered from government since 2005.
“The country’s resources are being shared by a few greedy people,” said Chakwera.
He said once voted in power, MCP will introduce policies to revamp the agriculture secretor and also put emphasis on science and technology as the basis for the transformation of the country.
“We have to build expertise in these areas for the economy to take off,” said Chakwera.
He also said there were plans to use technology to improve productivity in agriculture.
Chakwera’s chiding of ‘donor aid’ comes after president of the People’s Transformation Party (Petra), Kamuzu Chibambo also said Malawi has reached a helpless level where even building a simple house or rearing animals need assistance from the donors.
Chibambo said Petra has declared war on the dependency on donor aid, adding that a country cannot talk of freedom without economic freedom.
